There are a lot of frightening things that happen in our nation's schools, but three fifth graders plotting to off their teacher and put rat poison in her coffee cup is one of the most outrageous things I've heard in a long time. The way the school has handled the incident is even more unsettling.
According to KMPH, the teacher wasn't hurt, as one of the students fortunately had a change of heart and knocked the cup out of the teacher's hand at the last minute. Still, the cold and calculating actions of these students are mind-numbing as is their punishment to date.
They were simply expelled ... and transferred to another school. A criminal investigation is currently ongoing, and charges could be filed, but there is little evidence remaining since the incident happened back in December (more on that in a minute). Fresno Teachers Association President Greg Gadams strongly believes they should be held accountable under the law and told the station, "There should be some kind of legal charges filed against them, because if there is not, as they move up in the school system there will really be no record of anything that happened."
I agree that just moving them doesn't address the problem, nor does it send a clear message to students about the severity of their actions. As David Cross, a teacher at Phoenix Academy, where the students were transferred, told KFSN: "They should not be placed at another campus where now other staff and other students have to worry about. Certainly like a campus like ours where these kids are going to be elevated to gods to many of our kids, they're going to say this is great, maybe I can do something similar to a teacher or an adult."
Making the situation worse is the fact that the school didn't inform parents what happened until now. The incident actually took place back in December, but it wasn't made public until last week when one of the offending children's parents reportedly asked that the principal give their child some credit for saving the teacher's life ... uh yeah, after plotting to take it? And you wonder how these children could be so twisted with parents who think like that.
So how should these children be reprimanded? I'm not sure. I don't think they need to be written off forever nor denied an education because that would likely just lead to greater problems. Still there's got to be some more serious consequences than just a new school when it comes to something this serious.
How do you think the school district should handle students who commit such serious infractions?
Image via anthony_p_c/Flickr
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Comments 35
They should be held accountable for their actions; they attempted to murder their teacher because they didn't like her. Imagine if the one student hadn't had an attack of conscience! And that whole "My kid was part of the plan but changed their mind, so my kid should get some recognition!" thing is outrageous. WTF on all counts!
Wait, the school didn't tell the parents till now??? If I were the parent of one of those students I'd be PISSED. My kid commits attempted murder and you just didn't tell me??? That's inexcusable.
Expelling the students, I agree with. What other further consequences are available for 10 and 11 year olds though? Not many.
I'm so confused. Why did NO ONE at the school inform parents? Why did the teacher keep quiet at the attempt on her life? Why did the school not support its teacher by not addressing it until now? This is just...well...crazy!
10 and 11 year old children can be held legally accountable and they should be. I also don't feel that they should be allowed to continue their education in a public environment. Homeschooling might be a better option.
The lack of informing the parents is rediculous! If it were my kid that threatened another persons life, I would seriously question my parenting. I agree there is not much one can do to punish a 10-12 yr old, but moving schools is not going to help. Mandatory therapy would be on my list just to start.
I agree that there aren't many further consequences for those students that would result in them growing up to be productive members of society. Maybe counselling and community service? No one actually got hurt, so is it worth completely ruining three lives with some type of juvenile detention sentence?
Also I don't see in the original article where it says the offenders' parents weren't informed, it just says it wasn't made public until now.
they should be triled as adults and go to jail for planning a murder...... even if 1 backed out.
I would say kick them out of all state run schools but people would get upset bc the children still "deserve" a free education. The chance to get an education should be promised but if you do something this massive why spend money on the kid now when we're surely going to be housing them in prison later. This kind of behavior deserves real consequences.